By Diane Weatherup | Development Director
During a recent visit to Ethiopia Orbis chatted to a young women who is the leader of the local Women's Group in Dokotu in southern Ethiopia. These Womens groups are set up to mobilise the community in their understanding of preventable diseases, such as trachoma.
Asnaqech explained “I have seen trachoma in my community for many years. Now we know how to stop it – better sanitation, face washing, and operations if it is needed.
“I see how it works – the eye is itchy, then red, the tears come and then pain and then they lose their sight.
“At first only a few went for the operation, then more went. And now, thanks to prevention very few need the surgery anymore.
“We are happy to be cleaner but some people still need more talking around. There is more to do but already there are fewer flies. We all understand the need and working to reach the goal of beating trachoma.
“Water is the great problem here. After working in the farms our faces are dirty, by the time we get home the water left over is not enough to wash properly. We also need more segregated latrines so everyone take ownership for their maintenance.
“The other women and I are agents, here for the people to fight trachoma. We have learned much from Orbis and the health workers.
“We do not count how many surgeries we make happen. But everyone that needs one gets one.
“We face some challenges, but educating our community is important to us. We also struggled to overcome the gender bias. The support from men is vital, without it we cannot do our work, but I feel we have it now.
“I don’t know if trachoma will be beaten but all my life I will try. We have a strong group of women".
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